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Episode 44: After the Dojo
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"Heal yourself," Ash suggested. Willow warbled as she activated Synthesis. Slowly, her bruises began to lighten in color before fading entirely. "You're getting good at this. If you keep training, you might reach a level where you won't need to go to Pokemon Centers often." Willow climbed onto his shoulder, unzipped his bag, and made herself comfortable in it. Ash sighed. "You know I hoped you would grow out of wanting to be carried." She licked his cheek, refusing to respond, then she ducked back into the bag.
I guess I have to carry her until she evolves again. Maybe she'd grow out of it once she was a Venusaur. He suspected he would be carrying a tiny dinosaur for the rest of his life. Anthony strode across the field. "You fought well," he said, extending a hand.
"You too," Ash grinned, taking his hand and shaking it firmly. With his other hand, Anthony handed Ash his winnings. He took it and put it in his pocket.
"You're welcome back anytime," Anthony added. "Perhaps next time we could pit Willow against Punisher, my Annihilape."
"Sounds good to me," Ash responded. In a scarlet flash, River the Poliwrath appeared. He walked to Ash's side and extended a hand toward Willow. She shook it with one of her vines. Ash nodded at River and Anthony before turning and walking toward the audience. There were two people he'd like to talk with. He blinked, Erika and Sabrina were already gone. So he exchanged greetings with Nurse Joy instead and made his way out of the dojo.
"Ash!" Erika called. She and Sabrina stood at the right side of the dojo's steps. Ash joined them with a smile. Sabrina gave him an assessing stare. Erika's Oddish peered up at him curiously. "How've you been?"
"Good," Ash replied, pulling out his hunter's license. "Got this a couple of weeks ago."
Erika smiled. "Congratulations."
"A Pokemon Hunter," Sabrina said quietly. "Tell me, did you pick this career path because you wanted to battle powerful Pokemon, or merely for spending money?"
"A bit of both really," Ash responded with a shrug, Sabrina smiled slightly, and he put his license back in his vest. "I can explore more of the Indigo League now, too, but that's just a bonus. Is it true that Silph Co created a new Pokeball?"
"It is true," Sabrina answered. "They're calling it the Master ball. They believe it is capable of catching any Pokemon, regardless of their strength. All of the Pokemon they've used the prototype on has been captured easily."
"So it could work even on Dragonite or Gyarados," Ash muttered. "What an incredible achievement. I bet it's going to be expensive. I wonder if we'll see rich kids with powerhouses like Snorlax or Steelix in the next tournament. "
"Fewer than you may think," Sabrina said with a shake of her head. She drew a breath to expand on that thought before wincing. She turned around and took a few steps away. In a flash of light, she released an Alakazam. Alakazam was a bipedal yellow-furred Pokemon with three fingers and three clawed toes. It had brown fur around its torso, knees, and wrists as well as an impressive moustache that flowed down to its waist. It was nearly five feet tall and its limbs spindly except its thick calves. It twirled the spoons it held in each hand with the practiced ease of a swordmaster.
"Is everything alright?" Ash asked. Sabrina whispered orders to her Alakazam and it nodded, then it was gone in a flash. Teleport.
"Rina can sense nearly everyone in this city," Erika explained quietly. "For her to send Al himself the criminal must be strong. Usually, a gym Kadabra is enough." Sabrina kept her eyes shut. Ash could see a faint pink glow behind her eyelids. She's linking with her Alakazam. "As for your question, the Master ball allows you to capture any Pokemon, but it can't tame them for you."
"Oh, that would be an issue," Ash said, slightly stunned. The easiest way to tame a Pokemon was to defeat it in a one-on-one fight. If your partner, or any other team member, couldn't defeat your new catch, it wouldn't respect that partner's authority. A trainer's authority comes from their partner's strength. "Sounds like some rich kids are going to catch Pokemon they can't control."
'Exactly," Erika replied. "We'll have to be careful when it comes to distributing the Master balls. The last thing we need is a Tyranitar rampaging through a city because it's disappointed in its new trainer." She smiled. "Have you heard? There's supposed to be a strong trainer in town," Erika said while petting the Oddish she held. "A young, talented trainer who Team Rocket fears."
"Oh? That's interesting-" Ash trailed off when he felt King's Pokeball shake. "We'll have to catch up another time. I promised a training-obsessed crab he could train if he didn't get to fight." He felt Gore's Pokeball shake. "And I owe a pig his jerky too." Oddish stared at Ash in wonder. Not at me, at Willow. The Ivysaur's deep pink eyes peered back. They were likely around the same age. "Let's arrange a playdate for these two someday."
"Let's," Erika agreed her bright smile widening. "See you around."
"Until next time," Sabrina said while opening her eyes. They were red again. Whatever business Al the Alakazam had was nearly over then. "Be well, Ash Ketchum."
"Later," Ash said, waving as he walked away. Sabrina and her team are something else. Saffron was one of the largest cities in the Indigo League and was famous for its low crime rate. Cities with psychic gyms were often among the most peaceful in any country, but not to the degree that Saffron was. Seeing Al the Alkazam helped Ash understand why the city was safe for businesses and families. Ash would have to return to challenge Sabrina someday.
Should I look for a Fire Stone here, or wait until Gray Town? He promised Grace one after she got her sixth tail and she'd been waiting patiently for it. It couldn't hurt to look for the stone in Saffron. Finding a good stone was more important than the price or how quickly it could be obtained.
Ash frowned. The scent of oil pervaded the city. Even the trees and shrubs by the sidewalk couldn't freshen the air. Of all the cities he'd been in, Celadon smelled best and Saffron the worst. He took his Pokemon to the Pokemon Center first. Ash gave Hellfire and Grace's Pokeballs to the nurse on duty and picked up a newspaper on his way to the training field. He paused as he looked at its front page.
A Pikachu was riding a Pidgeot that carried a Bulbasaur in one talon and a Squirtle in the other. Ash stared at Pikachu's grinning face. It had a bottle of ketchup in one paw and a Pokedex in the other. "There's no way," Ash muttered. He knew that grin. Oak had once caught a Pichu obsessed with ketchup near Pallet Town who grinned just like that. The demonic Pichu is alive. Alive and thriving at that. Ash shook his head and walked to the training field. According to the paper, Pikachu and his friends were being hailed as heroes for defeating a rampaging young Tyranitar.
He released Gore, King, and Kakuna once he'd arrived at the field. Ash took in a deep breath. The air was fresh and smelled of freshly trimmed grass. Far better than the sidewalk. Gore snorted, then stomped on the ground a few times. Multiple boulders emerged from the ground for practice dummies. King gave Ash an annoyed look. "Don't look at me like that," Ash said, "I said you'd fight if Anthony used his Machoke or Hitmontop, and he didn't."
King turned away to glare at a boulder. Ash patted him behind his crown. He could understand the Kingler's frustration. It had been a while since his last serious battle. "Remember, the next gym on our journey is Cinnabar's fire-type gym. I'll teach you an awesome move there too." Kakuna buzzed to get Ash's attention. "You're not fighting at the Cinnabar Gym, Kakuna. You'll be roasted alive." Kakuna glared at the ground.
"Your time will come too, Kakuna," Ash told him while sitting on the ground. Gore grunted before trotting off to patrol the perimeter. He'd taken to doing this every time they used a new training field. He would get his venison jerky after. Gore would make sure of that. Ash snorted, imagining his partner's face when denied one of his favorite snacks. When they'd traveled Rock Tunnel, their jerky had been stolen by a Sandslash. Gore had been suspicious of the species since then.
"King," Ash said, "Today I want you to focus on your Slam and Waterfall combo. River, the Poliwrath's Ice Punch and Waterfall combo gave Willow a hard time, I want to see how much power your Waterfall can create. You can train for Crabhammer after using Slamfall ten times." King clicked his understanding. "Willow, I want you to rest with me, you need time to recover from that battle." Willow chirped, sticking her upper body out of his backpack. Ash reached back and pulled her into his lap. "Kakuna, keep practicing String Shot and Poison Sting."
As he petted her, he remembered something his grandfather said. "Even the strongest person alive is no match for a motivated young Pokemon," Oak had told him one evening. Oak was sitting in a rocking chair on his lab's porch. "If you try to motivate them through your physical strength, then you're finished as a trainer. You have to move their spirit. One of the greatest challenges of being a trainer is winning the loyalty of creatures who could crush you like a bug."
"Move their spirit?"
"That's right," Oak said with a nod. "You'll have a partner of your own soon, they'll be your strength, Ash. You'll be their motivation, their fire, their inspiration. Once your spirit is synced with theirs, you can do anything."
Ash smiled at the memory. Gore was stronger than any human could control the moment he hatched. It would have been impossible to motivate him by force. It had taken days of feeding, watering, and cleaning up after Gore to get the piglet to listen. He had been stubborn and determined to do exactly what he wanted. Ash's smile widened. Gore trotted up to Ash's side and snorted. Ash tossed him a few pieces of jerky. "You want to practice your new moves alone, right? Go train in the clearing past those trees for a while." He pointed at the trees fifteen yards away.
Gore grunted. He was eager to test his new moves, but the scale of his attacks could be dangerous to the team. They didn't want a repeat of teaching King to use Whirlpool. Poor Hellfire had been taking a nap near the water King had been practicing in, when King threw the Whirlpool, the Houndoom was caught in its vortex. "Remember, not to use your ice on the trees!" Ash called. Gore chuffed back.
King rode a surging stream of water towards one of the boulders. He lifted his glowing right arm and slammed it into the boulder, blowing away the upper half of the stone. "Great job, King! Now let's see how many you can do in a row," Ash said. King clicked back.
The earth trembled. Light vibrations traveled up Ash's spine. Gore's improving. How devastating would his new moves be once he could control the direction the shockwaves travelled through the earth? It was hard to believe he was the same piglet tiny enough to fit in a child's lap seven years ago.
A vine poked his cheek. "I'm watching," Ash chuckled. King rode a surging stream once more, destroying the top half of a second boulder. He used his Slam and Waterfall combination again before needing to take a moment to rest. "Three times in a row is your limit for now. Slamfall… It's the most powerful move in your arsenal for sure. We'll have to be careful when and how it's used." King gurgled and saluted.
Ash shut his eyes for a moment, "Next, you'll give me ten Metal Claws and ten Vice Grips. Then I want you to practice Iron Defense while Kakuna shoots Poison Stings at you." King clicked happily before turning to one of the boulders he had attacked. Ash grinned. Nothing improves his mood like training.
Kakuna glared at the boulder opposite him as if it insulted his hive. He shot a white thread of silk from his maw at the boulder's tip, then pulled himself on top of the stone before lowering himself again. He repeated this ten times before taking a brief break.
After a few hours, Ash left his team, except for Willow, behind to train. He picked up Hellfire and Grace's Pokeballs, along with food for dinner, thanked the nurse on duty, and returned to the training field. The trainer released his fire types and sat between them. He put Willow back in his lap while scratching Hellfire behind his ear. Grace put her head on his lap, next to Willow's, to get his attention. Ash stroked her back with his other hand. The winners of their challenges had the rest of the day off from training. That was one of his rules.
They spent the rest of the day training while Ash watched, occasionally giving advice or instruction when needed. Which story next time? Maybe Regigigas or Rayquaza? A story about them or just their history? He decided on Regigigas as the sun set before gathering wood for a fire with Willow, Hellfire, and Grace. He started a fire and called Gore, Kakuna, and King to him. His team gathered around the fire and ate. He recalled them after dinner. Only Willow and Gore remained out. Gore walked up to Ash and tapped the Mega Stone.
"You want to try it again?" Ash asked. Gore grunted and Willow trilled. "Okay," he pointed at two spots opposite him around the fire. "Sit there." Ash took off the necklace and held it in his palm. The trainer shut his eyes and began to meditate, focusing on his breathing. Gore and Willow shut their eyes too. He could feel their presence. A Spring Flower and Winter Fang, a lovely rose with poisonous thorns, and a snowstorm atop a great mountain.
The Mega Stone glowed a brilliant blue bright enough to be seen even with his eyes shut. Ice formed beneath Gore, but its chill didn't reach Ash. Flowers bloomed at Willow's feet, their scent was sweet, and their thorns were poisonous and deadly. Their thorns wouldn't pierce Ash.
He felt energy within. It was warm and fierce at his core. Ash delved into it, and it engulfed his being in waves. He shuddered, for he could feel it, Gore and Willow's essence reaching for his. He met them halfway, his instincts guiding him towards his partner and the Ivysaur he'd helped raise. Gore's resolve, his determination, and his warmth for his team. Willow's gentleness, her curiosity, and her desire to protect.
Their power swelled to its zenith, then higher, and higher still before Ash gasped. His eyes shot open, and the power faded as if it was a fire blown out by a great gust of wind. He held his head and panted heavily. His forehead throbbed and his vision swam as he heard Gore groan. The Piloswine shook his head vigorously. Willow blinked rapidly, trying to clear her vision.
"I need to meditate more before we do this again," Ash stated, putting the Mega Stone's necklace back on. He had only started meditating a week ago to help Grace train. Ash didn't know when or why she began to do it, but he wanted to show her support, so he joined her almost every day. Gore grunted in agreement while Willow cooed. He pushed himself to his feet. The fire had been smothered beneath the ice Gore created. "Come on, we have an early train ride to Gray Town tomorrow."
Willow followed him while Gore sniffed the air. Ash paused, the hair on the back of his neck rising. They were being watched. A pink and purple blur landed behind Gore. The Piloswine spun, his tusks covered in frost, then the blur's small arm extended. Ash's partner gasped. The tiny, pink hand held an Oran Berry, which Gore ate happily.
"Really?" Ash facepalmed. "What if she'd been distracting you with food?" The figure extended its other hand with an Oran Berry held in it. Willow took it with her vines and a delighted trill. "You're becoming more and more like him every week," Ash noted with a sigh. The rest of his team appeared in scarlet flashes. King stood between Ash and their guest, holding his giant claw up as if to do battle. Grace took his left while Hellfire took his right. Kakuna climbed onto Ash's shoulder and glared.
The figure lowered the hood of her purple cloak. She was a Pokemon with pink fur and three-fingered hands. She was plump and almost circular, like most of her kind. She stood less than two feet tall and had wings on her back. Her purple eyes were striking and left Ash feeling exposed, as if she knew his secrets. "Greetings, Ash Ketchum," the Clefable said in a calming and smooth voice.
Ash would never forget those purple eyes. "You're… the Clefable that gave me my Mega Stone." Grace relaxed the moment she heard Clefable's voice.
"How serendipitous that we should meet again here."
Ash snorted. "You have Future Sight and psychic powers, don't you? You probably sensed me the moment you entered the city." There was no chance this meeting was a coincidence.
"Well, I won't deny seeking you out." Clefable giggled. "I'm glad I was near Saffron. It's time we talked."
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In this world, Pangea is the only supercontinent that ever was. That's why it existed a hundred million years before it was formed in our world. I didn't know much about Pangea when I wrote episode 41. I definitely didn't know there were other supercontinents in the planet's history. Isn't that neat?
My mistakes aside, how are you doing? Did you enjoy the episode?